Plate/socket attachment for artificial limb vacuum pump

Abstract

A hypobarically-controlled artificial limb for amputees includes a single socket with a volume and shape to receive a substantial portion of the residual limb. A liner with a volume less than the residual limb is donned over the residual limb, with the liner tensioned into a total contact relationship with the residual limb. A sealed cavity is formed between the socket and the liner. A vacuum source is connected to the socket cavity thereby drawing the residual limb and liner into firm and total contact with the socket. To compensate for some air leakage past the seal, there is a mechanism to maintain the vacuum in the cavity. A plate/socket attachment connects the vacuum source to the cavity.

1. In an artificial limb for amputees who have a residual limb, the artificial limb having a pylon, a socket attached to the pylon, a flexible liner having a cavity with a volume less than that of the residual limb, the socket having a volume and shape to receive a substantial portion of the residual limb and the liner, the socket having a cavity between the liner and the socket adapted to receive the residual limb and the liner, a vacuum source connectable to the socket cavity, and a seal means for sealing the socket cavity; a valveless plate/socket attachment for connecting the vacuum source to the socket cavity, the plate/socket attachment comprising:
 a) a plate attached to the pylon and to the socket, the plate having a first surface and a second surface;  
 b) a vacuum passage through the plate between the first surface and the second surface; and  
 c) a vacuum outlet in the second surface for attachment of the vacuum source;  
 d) the artificial limb having an inner socket disposed between the residual limb and the socket, the socket cavity being between the liner and the inner socket, a mechanical interlock connected between the plate/socket attachment and the inner socket and, connected to the vacuum passage, a seal between the mechanical interlock and the vacuum passage; the mechanical interlock having a second vacuum passage therethrough, the mechanical interlock engaging the seal thereby providing an air-tight connection between the vacuum passage and the second vacuum passage.  
 
     
     
       2. The plate/socket attachment of  claim 1 , wherein a vacuum of at least ten inches of mercury below ambient is maintained in the cavity. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the seal means further comprises a nonfoamed, nonporous polyurethane suspension sleeve for rolling over and covering the socket and a portion of the residual limb. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the liner is of a nonfoamed, nonporous polyurethane. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the seal means further comprises an annular seal between the liner and the socket. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum source is a vacuum pump and a regulator to maintain vacuum in the cavity, and further comprising a power source for the vacuum pump and the regulator. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a vacuum reservoir having a volume substantially larger than the cavity. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum source further comprises a weight-actuated vacuum pump. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a thin sheath between the liner and the socket, to assist the even distribution of vacuum in the cavity about the liner. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a retention member for releasably locking the mechanical interlock. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 10 , the retention member being within the plate/socket attachment biased against the mechanical interlock at an acute angle to a longitudinal axis of the mechanical interlock, and further comprising a retention member spring biasing the retention member, and a release member engaging the retention member and moving the retention member to a position substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the mechanical interlock. 
     
     
       12. The plate/socket attachment of  claim 1 , the mechanical interlock being in the first surface and removably connecting the plate/socket attachment to the inner socket, and the second vacuum passage being connected to the socket cavity. 
     
     
       13. The plate/socket attachment of  claim 12 , wherein the mechanical interlock comprises a shuttle pin attached to the inner socket and removably connectable to a shuttle pin receiver in the first surface. 
     
     
       14. The plate/socket attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the seal comprises an O-ring. 
     
     
       15. In an artificial limb for amputees who have a residual limb, the artificial limb having a pylon, a socket attached to the pylon, a flexible liner having a cavity with a volume less than that of the residual limb, the socket having a volume and shape to receive a substantial portion of the residual limb and the liner, the socket having a cavity between the liner and the socket adapted to receive the residual limb and the liner, a vacuum source connectable to the socket cavity, and a seal means for sealing the socket cavity: a valveless plate/socket attachment for connecting the vacuum source to the socket cavity, the plate/socket attachment comprising:
 a) a plate attached to the pylon and to the socket, the plate having a first surface and a second surface;  
 b) a vacuum passage through the plate between the first surface and the second surface;  
 c) a vacuum outlet in the second surface for attachment of the vacuum source;  
 d) the artificial limb having an inner socket disposed between the residual limb and the socket, the socket cavity being between the liner and the inner socket, and further comprising a shuttle pin receiver in the first surface, the shuttle pin receiver being connected to the vacuum passage, and an O-ring between the shuttle pin receiver and the vacuum passage; and a shuttle pin attached to the inner socket and removably connectable to the shuttle pin receiver to connect the inner socket to the plate/socket attachment, the shuttle pin having a second vacuum passage therethrough, the second vacuum passage being connected to the socket cavity, the shuttle pin engaging the O-ring thereby providing an air-tight connection between the vacuum passage and the second vacuum passage.  
 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising: a retention member within the shuttle pin receiver biased against the shuttle pin at an acute angle to a longitudinal axis of the shuttle pin, a retention member spring biasing the retention member, a release member engaging the retention member and moving the retention member to a position substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shuttle pin, and a release member spring biasing the release member.